What Causes A Swollen Battery In Your Laptop & Is It Safe To Still Use?

Ever heard people say not to charge your devices overnight? There’s a good reason for it: the most common cause of battery swelling is overcharging. When a laptop is left plugged in for extended periods, the battery continues to receive energy even after it’s fully charged. This excess current causes the battery’s chemicals to degrade over time. As a result, the lithium-ion batteries end up releasing all the toxic gasses that build up within the sealed battery casing, eventually leading to a swollen battery.

Other than overcharging, a swollen battery can also occur due to impact. Regardless of how durable you think your $1,000 laptop is, it’s just as susceptible to damage as any other device. An accidental knock or drop can end up puncturing the delicate layers within a lithium-ion battery, and expose the battery’s internal components to hot air. This can potentially trigger chemical reactions that release toxic gasses like methane, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen, and lead to a swollen battery. 

External environments, like leaving your laptop in a parked car when the weather’s exceptionally hot during the summers, can also cause your laptop’s internal components to heat up. This could ultimately lead to your battery swelling up. Your laptop’s battery swelling might not necessarily have anything to do with you. At times, your battery may also undergo pre-mature swelling due to faulty construction, poor-quality materials, or errors during the manufacturing process.

After spending thousands on a laptop, everyone wants to maximize their device’s life and dread the thought of having to spend hundreds (if not thousands) on repairs or replacements. Unfortunately, while laptops nowadays are more durable than ever, they’re not immune to issues. While software issues can often be fixed with a quick Google search, hardware issues like swollen batteries are much more complex. There’s little to no space for experimentation or taking risks when it comes to the health and safety of your device. If you’ve noticed your laptop changing shape, its screen not closing completely, a visible gap between the upper and lower parts of the case, or failing to sit perfectly flat, we have some bad news for you: there’s a good chance your device’s battery may be swelling.

Swollen batteries not only ruin your device’s physical appearance but also pose significant safety hazards, including the risk of leaks, overheating, or even fire. Many users on forums like Reddit have shared stories of laptops emitting fumes and eventually catching fire due to swollen batteries. For example, in one Reddit post, a laptop began releasing smoke and eventually burst into flames. The users immediately attempted to pick up the burning device and take it outside. While this was a risky move given the dangers involved, it goes to how just how dangerous a swollen battery can be. So, if your device shows any signs of battery swelling, it’s a good idea to seek professional help immediately, instead of continuing to use your device or attempting a self-repair.